before he was iced. She said she was surprised at how he had changed since she saw him last. She said he was singing, and a lot more outgoing than he had been. Seemed really happy, she said.'
Delaney and Boone stared at each other.
'Crazy,' the Sergeant said, shaking his head.
Delaney explained to Jason why they were puzzled. He told him that Sylvia Mae Otherton had claimed Ellerbee had become quieter, more thoughtful, not depressed but subdued.
'It doesn't jibe,' Jason said.
'One of those ladies must be wrong.'
'Not necessarily,' Delaney said.
'Maybe they just caught him in different moods. But what's interesting is that they both noticed a recent change in his disposition. I'd like to know what brought that on. It's probably nothing, but still…
Sergeant, why don't you tell Jason about the patients we've seen.'
When Boone finished, Jason said, 'Whoa-ee! Those people-doesn't sound like their elevators go to the top floor.'
'They're a little meshugenah,' Delaney admitted.
'Sometimes they make sense and sometimes they're way out in left field.
Our problem is going to be separating what's real from what's part of their never-never world. I don't see how we can do anything but let them blabber and then try to figure the meaning later. I'll have to warn the new people about that when they come in Monday morning.'
'Sir,' Boone said, 'how are you going to handle those guys-assign one to each of the patients?'
'That was my first plan, and maybe it would work if we were covering punks and small-time hoods. But these subjects are mostly educated and intelligent, even if their brains rattle a little. I think we'll get better results if each detective has a chance to talk to three or four of the patients. And then select the one he feels he can work with best.
You know how sometimes a witness will clam up with one dick and then spill his guts to another because he feels the second guy is more simpatico. We'll try to pair detective and subject so it'll do us the most good.'
They talked for another hour, discussing how they would organize the investigation so detectives wouldn't be duplicating each other's work unless a double-check was deemed necessary Deianey decided that Boone and Jason would each be responsible for scheduling and supervising three detectives. The two of them would then submit daily reports to Delaney on the activities of their squads.
'I expect a certain amount of confusion at first,' he told them, 'but I want the two of you to coordinate your planning as much as possible.
I'll keep the files, which will be open to all of you. Just tell your guys to put everything in their reports, no matter how stupid or meaningless they might think it. And the first thing I want done is to have these six patients run through Records. If they're as violent as Doctor Diane seems to think, some of them should have sheets.'
The- _aded ideas awhile longer, then Delaney glanced up at the walnut-cased regulator on the wall, a relic from a demolished railroad station.
'Getting late,' he said.
'Why don't the three of us try Ronald J. Bellsey again-just walk in on him without warning. He should be home by now. Jason, we'll take your car and you can drop us back here.'
On the drive south, Delaney remembered to ask Jason Two if he and his family would like to come for Thanksgiving Day dinner.
'Thank you, sir,' the officer said, 'but we've already signed on with Juanita's parents. They're making a big deal out of it, and the kids and the old folks would kill me if I canceled.'
'Don't even consider it,' Delaney said.
'We'll make it an.other time. Your boys should see their grandparents as often as possible. I wish I could see more of my grandchildren.'
They double-parked in front of Bellsey's high-rise. Boone flashed his ID and asked the doorman to keep an eye on their car. There was no house phone; the lobby attendant explained they'd have to use the intercom. In addition, they were told to stand in front of a small, ceiling-mounted television camera that would relay their picture via closed circuit to a monitor in Bellsey's foyer.
'Cute gimmick,' Delaney said.
'First time I've been on TV,' Jason said, grinning.
'Should I do a buckand-wing or something?'
Boone spoke softly to Bellsey on the intercom, then held up his shield before the camera's eye.
'Apartment 2407,' he reported to the others.
'He said to come up, but he didn't sound too happy about it.' In the elevator, Delaney said to Jason, 'Don't be bashful about chiming in when we question this guy. Let's overwhelm him with muscle.'
The door of Apartment 2407 was jerked open by a stocky, red-faced man wearing a rugged sport jacket and whipcord slacks. Behind him, a smallish, graying woman stood in the foyer archway, hands clasped, peering at them timidly.
'I suppose this is about Ellerbee,' Bellsey burst out angrily.
'I already talked to the cops about that.'
'We know you did, Mr. Bellsey,' Boone said.
'That was just a preliminary questioning. Unfortunately, you're involved in a murder investigation, and we--'
'What do you mean I'm involved?' Bellsey demanded, his voice rising.
'Jesus Christ, I was just one of his patients! I don't know a damned thing about how he got killed.'
'Mr. Bellsey,' Delaney said stonily, 'are you going to keep us standing out here in the hallway while you shout at us and the neighbors get an earful?'
'Screw the neighbors! I don't see why I have to be harassed like this.'
Jason T. Jason shoved his big bulk forward.
'No one's harassing you,' he said quietly.
'Just a few questions and we'll be out of your hair.'
Bellsey looked up at the big cop.
'Shit!' he said disgustedly.
'Well, come on in then. I want you to know you're interrupting our dinner.' He turned to the woman.
'Lama, you get back to the kitchen; this has nothing to do with you.'
The woman scurried away.
'Your wife?' Delaney asked as the three men entered the apartment.
'Yeah,' Bellsey said.
'Leave her out of this.'
He didn't offer to take their coats and made no effort to get them seated. So they all remained standing in a tight little group.
'I'm Sergeant Boone and these men are Delaney and Jason. Your full name is Ronald J. Bellsey?'
'That's right. The J. is for James in case you're interested.'
'When was the last time you saw Doctor Ellerbee?'
'On Thursday afternoon, the day before he was killed.
Don't tell me you didn't get that from his appointment book.
Or is that expecting too much brains from cops?'
'Be nice, Mr. Bellsey,' Delaney said softly.
'You get snotty with us and you'll be answering our questions at the precinct house and waiting a long, long time for your dinner.
Is that what you want?'
He glowered at them.
Bellsey was heavy through the shoulders and chest. His neck was short and thick, supporting a squarish head topped with an ill-fitting toupee.
He stood leaning belligerently forward, pugnacious jaw thrust out, hands balled into fists.
'Mr. Bellsey,' Boone said, 'You claim you were home on the night Ellerbee was killed.' -That's right.'
